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TRANSCRIPT
Innovative approaches to revitalize
sustainable agro-forestry systems:
the LIFE Regenerate project
Pier Paolo RoggeroDesertification Research Centre and Department of Agricultural Sciences
University of Sassari, Italy
https://en.uniss.it/nrd - [email protected]
YLP-EFI
Barcelona
27 November 2018
Wooded grasslands: lessons learned from 10 years of
research in Sardinia
Biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by
Mediterranean wooded grasslands
Opportunities and threats
The Life Regenerate project
Outline
MAPof EUROPEAN WOOD PASTURES
Blue: Pastures in OpenWoodlands
Red: Pastures with ScatteredTrees
Green: with fruitorchards
>20 Mha in EU27
43% managed with grazingPlieninger et al., 2015;
den Herder et al., 2017
DehesasMontados
Habitat 6310 – Dehesas with evergreen Quercus spp. Habitat 6220* - Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals
Wooded grasslands in Sardinia
113.000 ha:
5% of the island area and
10% of the total agricultural land)[email protected]
Goods Provided by Wooded grasslands
Forage:
Herbaceous pasture
fodder trees Fruits: Acorns,
Chestnuts…
Firewood, charcoal Materials: Cork, timberFruits, Mushrooms
Ecosystem services
Microclimate
Soil fertility
C seq, mitigation of GHGs
Biodiversity conservation
Forage provisioning
SHs perception Provisioning Supporting Regulating Cultural
Local people X X
Regional level X X X
Private sector X X
Civil sector X X X
Moreno et al 2018
The Berchidda-Monti observatory
Climate: 630 mm (70% from October to March); 14.2°C; aridity index 0.53Soil: granite matrix, sandy loam, pH 5.7 (range 5.1–6.4), organic C 2.3% (1.3–6.0) and total N 0.2% (0.9–5.4) (Seddaiu et al., 2013).Potential vegetation: cork oak (Quercus suber L.) forest (Bagella and Caria, 2011).
The Berchidda-Monti observatory
MIUR FISR – 2006-09www.soilsink.entecra.it
2011-14www.ecofinders.eu
Pascuum2012-15
2012-18www.macsur.eu
2011-14www.agforward.eu
http://bit.ly/Ichnusabubula
Ecosystem services: microclimate regulation
How much forage is saved thanks to tree sheltering ?
• Lower soil temperature beneath the canopy on warm days --> reduced soil Rh, animal welfare
• Higher air temperature beneath the tree on cold days --> grass growth, animal welfare
Moreno et al, 2007
Seasonal dry matter production in relation to the positions below (BT) and outside (OT) of the tree canopy in the wooded grasslands
Seddaiu et al., 2018 Agrofor Sys
0.0
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0.8
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1.0
0
500
1000
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2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
autumn2012
winter2012-13
spring2013
autumn2013
winter2013-14
spring2014
autumn2014
winter2014-15
spring2015
Past
ure
uti
lizat
ion
rat
e
Dry
mat
ter
pro
du
ctio
n (
kg h
a-1
)OT prod BT prod OT utiliz rate BT utiliz rate
Ecosystem services: Forage production provisioning
Ecosystem services: Animal feeding
13% acorns
11% tree browse
Pasture, 76%
Contribution of different feed resources
In the Iberian dehesas the energy supplied by the pasture understorey + acorn + tree leaf browse increased as the tree cover increased up to 60–70%
Moreno et al. 2018; Agroforest SystLopez-Diaz et al., 2015; Agroforest Syst
Ecosystem services: Carbon sequestration and reduction of GHGs emission
Treesincrease soil carbon
content but are these systems
currently sequestering C ?
Howlett et al 2011 J Env Monit
94
67
g C kg-1 soil137
Seddaiu et al 2018. Agroforest Syst)[email protected]
Ecosystem services: Soil fertility
0
15
0 5 10 15
Distance to the tree trunk
(m)
20 25
20
25
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10
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250
K c
onte
nt
g /
kg
N Ca Mg P K
0,0
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P c
onte
nt g /
kg
Scattered trees increase the pool of soil nutrients
Moreno et al., 2007 Agric Ecosys Env
N, C
a, M
g, g
/kg
α plant diversity (field scale) 63.6 = 61.7
γ plant diversity (all fields) 146 135 177 (All)
β plant diversity (γ/α) 2.3 = 2.2
No. species unique to BT or
OT or shared42 31 104 (All)
Shannon-Wiener index 3.3 = 3.1
Collembola richness 3 1
Under (BT) Beyond (OT)
Seddaiu et al., 2018 Agroforest Syst; Rossetti et al., 2015 Agric Ecosys Env
Biodiversity
Plant and collembola assemblage composition, soil traits and floor litter
Collembola
Herbaceous plants
Rossetti et al., 2015 Agr Ecosys [email protected]
Bagella et al., in prep
Overall...
Characteristics Wood
land
Wooded
grassland
Open
grassland
Specializ
ed
scenario
27% WD
73%OG
Combined
scenario
50% WG
13.5% WD
36.5% OG
Tree cover 89% 27% 0% 27% 27%
ɣ diversity 129 128 78 173 202
average α diversity 21.3 45.3 41.6 31.5 37.1
β diversity 4.6 2.9 1.9 4.8 5.4
n. of unique species 43 21 6 49 70
Pastoral value 13.2 33.4 40.4 33.1 33.2
Nectariferous value 22.4 10.7 15.6 17.4 32.5
Soil C stock (0-20 cm) t ha -1 73.8 61.7 55.4 60.4 61
Live tree Carbon stock, t ha -1 26.2 16.5 0 7.1 11.8
Total C stock t ha-1 100 78.2 55.4 67.5 72.8
Avg standardized rank 2nd hi 2nd lo lowest interm highest
• Constraints of wooded grasslands for livestock farming– Lower grassland production -23%– Lower forage quality -25%– Lower grazing efficiency -40%
• Some drivers of change – Decrease of sheep milk prices
– Change in EU consumers’ food habits: less meat and animal products
– Decrease of cork price -50% (about 1,00o € t-1)
– Incentives for installation of new olive groves
– Competition with other crops (e.g. vineyards)
– Abandonment of small and mixed farming vs specialized farming
– Alternative occupation (e.g. coastal areas)
26
Some threats of wooded grasslands
Trends in wooded pastures in the last 50 years
Trends in EU-27 farmland size in 2005-2010
• Wooded grasslands
• are a fundamental component of Mediterranean forest landscapes
• their future is threatened by lack of regeneration or abandonment
• Soil C under the tree up to +50% than in open grassland
• Grassland species richness enhanced by tree shading: g diversity
+64% than treeless grassland systems
• Collembolan diversity enhanced vs open grasslands
• The trees negatively influence pasture production and forage quality
• Autumn and winter pasture production higher under the tree
• Sustainability issues
• Oaks regeneration threatened from current use or abandonment
• Insufficient income
• Integrated management is key to conservation and maintenance of multi-
functionality and ecosystem services
28
Lessons learned
LIFE REGENERATE (LIFE 16 ENV/ES/000276)
Revitalizing multifuncional Mediterranean agrosilvopastoralsystems using dynamic and
profitable operational practices
Budget Total: 2.209.203 €EU Grant: 1.306.117 € (60%)Duration: 01/09/2017 – 29/10/2021
Coordinator: Partners:
Life Regenerate project objectives
Objectives:
1Combat the loss of regeneration and soil degradation in 100 ha of silvapostoral areas by
providing effective, mosaic landscape management procedures and improving soil quality
2Enhance the practice of multi-species rotational grazing, to improve natural capital and to
optimize commercial advantanges
3 Recycle biomass waste reducing farm external inputs and creating alternative income
4 Upscale the project’s best practice to 5.000 ha in Spain, Italy & Portugal
5 Integrate new technologies
6Influence policy-making and involve external stakeholders to promote replication and long-
term sustainability
To demonstrate that SMEs
relying on wooded grasslands
can become self-sufficient and
profitable based on resource
efficiency principles and
incorporating added value
products
Main environmental issues
Loss of natural regeneration, biodiversity
and habitats
Increased risk of wildfire
Soil degradation and risk of erosion
AB
AN
DO
NM
ENT IN
TENSIFIC
ATIO
N
Uncontrolled new forestation + shrub
encroachment
Undergrazing
Loss of traditional know-how and incentives for
rural development(ex: transhumance)
Afforestation(ex: eucalyptus)
Deforestation
Overgrazing / Overstocking
Increase in mechanical and chemical inputs
Overcropping
- Climate change- Pests- Diseases (“La Seca”, etc.)
Internal (man-made) factors
External factors
LIVESTOCK- Healthier livestock, adding
value- Rotational multi-species
grazing, replicating mosaic structure
BIOMASS WASTE - Renewable energy (biomass
production)- Reduced dependency on fodder (alt.
sources of protein)- Alternative sources of income from
byproducts (biofertilizer, edible mushrooms, bedding for horses, etc.)
LAND & SOIL- Increase biodiversity & regeneration- Optimize density & increase resilience- Diversify production- Improve soil quality, mycorrhizae, combat diseases
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
ANNEX B2: Circular economy principle applied in LIFE Regenerate
Pasture improvement
LIVESTOCK SOIL PASTURE FOREST
Improved forestmanagement
Recyclingof biomass
Soilregeneration
Soilfertilization
Alternative source of proteins
Remediationof La Seca
Medicinal trees
Improved health
A technique to manage soil water,
favoring its retention by crops and
the restoration of degraded soils.
It also serves as a tool against
drought.
The topography of the land is
studied and the k points identified.
The keyline runs at 70-80 cm
depth on contour lines to distribute
water flows over the slope
Land flooded by inadequate hydrological management
Topographic survey of the land
Cultivated land according to the design of key line
ANNEX B2: Keyline design
Self-sufficient, competitive
BUSINESS MODEL
BIOMASS WASTE
MANAGEMENT
Revalorization
Circular Economy principle
LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT
Rotation
Stocking density
Multispecies
LAND MANAGEMENT
Grasslands
Forestry
Cropland
Soil
- Organic biofertilizer from
recycled biomass
- Reduced dependency on fodder
(alternative sources of protein)
- Alternative sources of income
byproducts
Conservation, enhancement of
HNV SYSTEM
- Healthier livestock
- Rotational holistic grazing
- Introduce multispecies
management
- Increase biodiversity &
regeneration by optimizing
density, diversifying
species, remediating
diseases
- Improve soil quality
- Improve water
retention/storage
Applying resource-efficiency thinking in farming models
Adaptive multi-paddock grazing
Step 1. Split into paddocks
Step 2. Moving herds from one paddock to anotherIt provides a decision-making framework that allows managers to vary the size of herds and the frequency of herd movements according to seasonal conditions. The land benefits from concentrated animal impact and long periods of rest. Source: SLM Partners
Step 3. Land is splitted into smaller paddocks, putting cattle in large herds, and moving them frequently across the property
ANNEX B2: Innovations with fungi
Important role of funghi for ecosystem
improvement
Environmental services
Tree & Forest health: water and nutrient retention, defense against root pathogens,
stability
Organic matter decomposition:
Nutrient recycling, humus and biogeochemical cycle regulation
Soil Quality:
Soil formation and structure, permeability, aggregation and water retention
Economic value
Pharmaceutical /Industrial applications:
Metabolite source
Edible products of high value:
Mushrooms, truffles, etc.
ANNEX B2: INNOVATIONS WITH FUNGHI
INNOVATIONS with fungi demonstrated during LIFE Regenerate
Substrate made from Quercus ilex and other biomass sources:
- Env. service: Apply beneficial pruning practices and prevent spread of wildfire
- Eco. Value: Production of edible mushrooms (ex: shiitake 18€/kg) from substrate under controlled atmosphere in less time (2 months vs 6 months)
Inoculation of Quercus ilex with beneficial mutualistic funghi + lime ammendments:
- Env. service: Improve tree health and resistance against pathogens in root system
- Eco. Value: Production of summer truffles (200€/kg) in less time (2/3 years vs 10 years)
• Maintaining scattered trees in the Mediterranean cork oak grasslands can be
more beneficial to the society in terms of regulating services than to farmers in
terms of provisioning services
• Payment schemes often directed to single ES: insufficient or counter-productive
vs multi-functionality perceived by SHs Garrido et al 2017 Land Use Pol
• Support to bundles of ESs including cultural services is needed (Garrido et al 2017)
• Natural capital generates flows of ES through interaction with Human, Social
and Built capitals (Costanza et al 2017)
39
Policy reccomendations
1. Multi-scale assessment of trade-offs among multiple goods
and services of Mediterranean wooded grasslands
2. Modelling grazing management and vegetation dynamics,
soil C, GHG emissions, water dynamics, nutrients
3. Soil microbiota short and long term dynamics
4. Tree regeneration vs grazing management
5. Selection and multiplication of adaptive forage plant
species suitable for wooded pastures.
6. Conditions under which net balance of trees is positive
(facilitation) or negative (competition) for grasslands
7. Economic evaluation of wooded grasslands including
regulatory and supporting services (green accounting)
8. Explore the cultural and lansdscape values of WG
Research Agenda
References from UNISS team
• Bagella, S., Salis, L., Marrosu, G.M., Rossetti, I., Fanni, S., Caria, M.C., Roggero, P.P., 2013. Effects of long-term management practices on
grassland plant assemblages in Mediterranean cork oak silvo-pastoral systems. Plant Ecology 214(4), 621-631.
• Cappai, C., Kemanian, A. R., Lagomarsino, A., Roggero, P.P., Lai, R., Agnelli, A.E., Seddaiu, G., 2017. Small-scale spatial variation of soil
organic matter pools generated by cork oak trees in Mediterranean agro-silvo-pastoral systems. Geoderma, 304, 59-67.
• Pulina, A., Lai, R., Salis, L., Seddaiu, G., Roggero, P.P., Bellocchi, G., 2017. Modelling pasture production and soil temperature, water and
carbon fluxes in Mediterranean grassland systems with the Pasture Simulation model. Grass and Forage Science, 1-12..
• Rossetti, I., Bagella, S., Cappai, C., Caria, M.C., Lai, R., Roggero, P.P., Martins da Silva, P., Sousa, J.P., Querner, P., Seddaiu, G., 2015.
Influence of isolated cork oak trees on soil features, plant and collembolan assemblages in a Mediterranean wooded grassland. Agriculture,
Ecosystems and Environment, 202, 203-216.
• Seddaiu, G., Porcu, G., Ledda, L., Roggero, P.P., Agnelli, A., Corti, G., 2013. Soil organic matter content and composition as influenced by soil
management in a semi-arid Mediterranean agro-silvo-pastoral system. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 167, 1-11.
• Seddaiu, G., Bagella, S., Pulina, A., Cappai, C., Salis, L., Rossetti, I., Lai, R., Roggero, P.P., 2018. Mediterranean cork oak wooded
grasslands: synergies and trade-offs between plant diversity, pasture production and soil carbon. Agroforestry Systems. doi: 10.1007/s10457-
018-0225-7.
• den Herder, M., Moreno, G., Mosquera-Losada, R.M., Palma, J.H.N., Sidiropoulou, A., Santiago Freijanes, J.J., Crous-Duran, J., Paulo, J.A.,
Tomé, M., Pantera, A., Papanastasis, V.P., Mantzanas, K., Pachana, P., Papadopoulos, A., Plieninger, T., Burgess, P.J., 2017. Current extent
and stratification of agroforestry in the European Union. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 241, 121–132.
• Howlett DS, Moreno G, Mosquera-Losada MR, Nair PKR, Nair VD (2011) Soil carbon storage as influenced by tree cover in the Dehesa cork
oak silvopasture of central-western Spain. J Environ Monit 13:1897–1904.
• Moreno, G., Obrador, J.J., García, A., 2007. Impact of evergreen oaks on soil fertility and crop production in intercropped dehesas. Agric.
Ecosyst. Environ. 119, 270–280.
• Plieninger, T., Hartel, T., Martín-López, B., Beaufoy, G., Bergmeier, E., Kirby, K., Montero, M.J., Moreno, G., Oteros-Rozas, E., Van Uytvanck,
J., 2015. Wood-pastures of Europe: geographic coverage, social–ecological values, conservation management, and policy implications. Biol.
Conserv. 190, 70–79.
• Moreno et al., 2018. Agroforestry systems of high nature and cultural value in Europe: provision of commercial goods and other ecosystem
services. Agroforest Syst. DOI 10.1007/s10457-017-0126-1
• Lopez-Dıaz, M.L., Rolo, V., Benitez, R., Moreno, G., 2015. Shrub encroachment of Iberian dehesas: implications on total forage productivity.
Agroforest Syst. DOI 10.1007/[email protected]